Progressively adjustable friction gears



April 2, 1957 E- MEYER 2,787,164

PRoGREssIvELY ADJUSTABLE FRIcTroN GEARs Filed March 9, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 BY E RNsr ME'YER E. MEYER PROGRESSIVELY ADJUSTABLE FRICTION GEARS April 2, 1957 2 shetssneet 2 Filed March 9, ,1954

, l/vl/E/vroR; u ERNYST MEYER,

2,787,164 ,Pnoonasswnrr ADJUSTABLE FRIC'rIoN GEARS Ernst Meyer, Winterthuryswitzerland, assigner to Schweizerische Lokomotiv- `und Maschinenfabrik, Winterthur, 4Switzerland Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 415,119

Claims priority,application ISwitzerlandMarch 27, 1953 8 Claims. (Cl.74.199.)

This invention relates Ito progressively adjustable friction gears having two types of interengaging 'friction'discs, namely plate discs and discs provided with abeaded marginal edge, and having a central shaft carrying "axially slidable friction discs of one of the said types rotating with the shaft and capable o'f being aXiallyiloaded, and at least four travelling counter shafts adapted to approach the central shaft and yto recede therefrom for varying the gear ratio, and carrying axially s'lidable friction discs of the second type rotating with the shaft.

In gears of-the above mentioned `typewhich comprise more than lthree travelling ou'ter shafts, it is diiicult to obtain a uniform distribution .of the lpressure 'to be applied to all the series of discs on the 'counter shafts, ffor the reason that supporting `the central end-disc on four or more series of discs is statically undetermined. Already small differences in the thickness of the single friction discs and 4part'iculaidy the total dimension of the different series of friction discs `fon the feed shafts can produce considerable pressure di'erences. g y

In order to overcome this diiculty it has already been proposed to make one of the central end-discs as "resiliently yieldable as possible, that is to .say thin-walled; this, however, is contrary to the.requirements'tobuild this disc suiciently resistant for transmitting vthe high contact pressures.

it is an object .of the invention to Amore evenly balance the Aaxial `pressures exerted on the ends of the different vseries of friction discs, than -it was 'possible .hitherto with `conventional balancing mechanism, This .is attained by applying statically determined 'supporting methods.

According to the .invention the series of ifriction discs olf the feed shafts are divided .in Vsystems 4of two or three groups of discs equiangnlarly disposed .along a circle. Each of these 'systems comprise, at least at `one end of the central disc series, Vaxial ypressure 4means hearing uni formly against `the corresponding two or `three friction disc groups on the counter shafts, an'd one Vspecial fric- `tion disc `disposed at the corresponding end ofthe friction `disc series on the counter `shaft andrecivingonly the `pressure of thefcorresponding central friction -fdisc.

Several embodiments of the Ainvention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying .'drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a longitudinal axial section through a friction `gear according to the invention, Ataken along fthe line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is `a transverse section along .the-line II--Il of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal .section along the `line lll-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. .4 is a .fragmentary longitudinal section, similar to Fig. l, of a modification;

Fig. 5 represents a irst diagram of forces;

Fig. 6 represents a second diagram of forces; l

Fig. 7 is a second modification shownlinflongfitudinazl section according to the line `VII`VII of Fig. 8;

*if States Patent lO ice Fig. l8 is a transverse section of this modiiica'tion according to -the line VH1-VIII of Fig. '7;

Figs. .9, Al() Aand .l1 are views in elevation `ofend ffric tion discs 4of three counter shafts;

Fig. 12 is a -further modification, l shown `in `a fragmentary longitudinal section.

Referring to Figs. 1 Vto f4, la riction .-'g'ear Y.mechanism isrlodged fin a `casing A1 .and comprises 'four counter'shafts 6. The torque is vtransmitted from the ,fdrivingfshait 2, carried `lin fa @bearing ron ithe left hand :cover '1.a 'of .the feasing, fbyzgearfwh'eels 3, *4 `andfS tothe four 'counter shafts 6, `and by "means fof l'a @second "adjustable transmission stage comprising at conical `discs 7 yand beaded edge discs 8 3to the driven, also centrally-located Voutput shaft Y9. In `order to "vary the transmission ratio ldi this second stage, the grooved lcounter shafts *6, 'carrying longitudinally slidahle fflat discs 7 `"turning withithe shafts, `'are journalled in 'rocking ."f'orks 1f0 'pivotally mounted Ein the casing covers la Aand Ib and "coupled with "eachfother by means of rocking levers 13 .and connecting -rods 14. The central shaft 9 is also grooved and carries longitudinally slida'ble beaded edge discs `3 remaining continuously engaged between the ilat discs "7.

The .relative position of `the countershafts `6 .and the central shaft 9 as shown in Figs. l to 4 correspondsto the rnal step (position E) `of the control lever :15 (Fig. 2.) 'of the gear, yin which -the gear ratio Iis the smallest, and thus .the speed of vthe driven shaft.9.thegreatest when the Yinput speed is constant. The initial stage of lthe gear is `obtained `at `the position O fof the control ilever d5. The corresponding position of the discs on r-.the counter .shaft -is shown -in dash and Adot `lines for the upper right hand discseries in Fig. 2.

fFor .transmissionfof theaxialloadithe friction discftransmission Lstage is fdivided `in two Asystems iliaving each two diametrically opposed series 'of travelling counter liscs and a corresponding central load applying member. The first system l:comprises 'the `tvvo `opposite series #A1 land l A2 of counterdiscsiincluding ltwoprimary discs 720, a zpressure applying tdisc 2i ion the central shait, reand .thefcoiled spring `212, thesecondsystem comprisestwo opposite seies B1 and B2 of fcounteridiscs including eachaprirnaryifri'ction disc 23 shown in Fig. 3 and in dash and dot lines in Fig. l,"'and`the central pressure applying discl2`4 and coiled spring 25. Both springs Z2 and 25 are hearing with their rearward .end against `a disc 26 secured to the shaft 9. The .total axialthickness e2 of the primary discs-23 of the second system is larger than the thickness ie1 of the primary discs `2li of rst system. `Both discs 23 are circumferentiallyrecessed so as to `be of H-shaped Across section, `and `the inner disc .section 23 ris thinner ythan the-disc 20. For this reasonrthe pressure of the spring 22 on1thediscf2l is transmitted exclusively `on theilirst pair .A1, A2 of lthe series of counter discs 20, and the pressure of thevfspring 25 Vis transmitted `exclusively on the secondpair B1, Bs of the Vseries of` counter discs, including Vtherdiscs 23, the two series of each pair always receiving an Vequal portion tof the l,pressure exerted by the corresponding central discs 21fand 2d, respectively. Thesupporting pressure egrerted by tlrerprimarycentral pressure discs on the series of friction discs accordingly is statically' determined. It is obvious that jthe twosprings 22 and 25 can be .balanced by any conventional adjusting 'means not yshown. in the drawing 'to exert equal pressures. `-in `any-case, Ithe two springs are j'so dimensione'd that they `have 'identical characteristics, rso thatlup'on changingthe gear iratioresulting inra corresponding axialidisplacement offtheipressurefdiscs V21anid 24, "the increase or'decrease of fspringpressur'e'fis equal for both springs.

As shown in Fig. 1,l the pressure disc-'21-isiprovitledwith a hub sleeve 28 receiving internally the end of spring 22, while the external face of the sleeve is fluted and slidably carries the pressure disc 24 turning with the sleeve.

While the input pressures are completely balanced by means of the described structure, certain pressure differences may build up within the various series of discs, since practically the plate discs 7 will never be of rigorously identical thickness, If the beaded edge discs 8 mounted on the central shaft 9 would be fully elastic, such small dilferences in thickness could be compensated by yielding or bending between the joints T (Fig. 2) where pressure is applied. Since such compensation is obtained only to a certain extent the pressures acting on *the counterpressure disc will generally not be fully equilibrated.

In order, however, to obtain a complete balance of pressures on the counter-pressure end of the series of discs, modification of the manner of supporting the series of discs may be used as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this modication, instead of a simple counter-pressure disc 27, there are provided two discs 30 and 31, and the end friction discs 32 and 33 of the series A1, A2 and B1, B2 of the travelling friction discs are formed with different cross sections, fin the same manner as the input discs 20 and 23. The disc 33 having H-shaped cross section is shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 4. Moreover, since the pressure disc 31 abuts against the hub of the disc 30 by the intermediary of a spherical surface, each of the two systems has its own counter-support and a complete balance of pressures is obtained at least with respect to the two systems.

For illustrating these pressure conditions, they shall be referred to the diagrams according to Figs. and 6. The input pressures exerted by the springs 22 and 25 are `designated by P1 and P4, and the counter-pressures by Q1 and Q4. The rst diagram, Fig. 5, corresponds to a conventional gear having four outer travelling shafts, and comprising at both ends of the central disc series a rigid or semi-rigid pressure disc. In this case neither the input pressures, nor the output pressures are balanced, because the manner of bearing of the pressure discs on the series of the friction discs on the travelling shafts is statically undertermined.

The diagram of Fig. 6 corresponds to the arrangement according to Figs. l to 3 and the modification of Fig. 4. The input pressures as well as the output pressures are balanced, as it results from the above description. In this case the following equations are obtained:

As mentioned above, also in the gears according to the invention small pressure differences may result within *the several series of discs owing to slight deviations in thickness of the single discs; a supposed course of the pressures has been illustrated in Fig. 6 by the four broken lines between the points of the pressures P and Q. For the reason of distinctness the deviations of the pressure lines have been shown somewhat exaggerated.

In the second example of the invention according to Figs. 7 to ll, the friction gear illustrated is of similar design as the gear according to Figs. l to 3, but it comprises six travelling outer shafts. These latter are subdivided into three systems of two diametrically opposed shaft pairs A1, A2; B1, B2; C1, C2; having end friction discs 20, 23 and 37, and corresponding pressure discs 21, 24 and 36. In order to simplify the illustration, the end friction disc 23 of the shaft pairs B1, B2 are shown in dash and dot lines, `and the end friction disc 37 of the pairs C1, Cz are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The discs 23 and 37 have H-shaped cross sections, so that the pressure discs 21 and 24 may penetrate between the two disc flanges. Since a particular pressure spring 38 is provided for the third system, which spring has the same characteristics as the two rst springs 22 and 25, also in this example at least the input pressures are completely balanced.

A' On; the counter-pressl-1re side,.the pressure forces can be taken up as illustrated by a simple end disc 27, or by three different discs bearing one against the other by a spherical surface as shown in Fig. 4.

Instead of dividing the gear having six counter shafts in three systems of two shafts each, it could be divided in two systems having each three counter shafts and corresponding auxiliary members, the result of the complete balance of pressure forces being conserved, since sup- .porting the end pressure discs on three series of discs is statically determined. In this case, the three shafts of one system would be angularly displaced through and the two systems themselves would be angularly displaced through 60.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. l2, the plate discs 7 are not carried by the travelling shafts 6, but by the central shaft 9, and the beaded edge discs 8 are carried by the travelling shafts 6 instead of by the central shaft. The end discs 40, 41, 42 and 43, as illustrated, may be formed as special members as described in the previous examples.

What I claim is:

l. A progressively adjustable friction gear, comprising two types of interengaging friction discs, including at conical discs and beaded edge discs, a central shaft carrying a series of axially slidable friction discs of said one type rotating with said shaft and adapted to be axially loaded, at least four travelling counter shafts disposed along a circle around said central shaft, said counter shafts carrying each a series of friction discs of said other type, Aeach series rotating with the corresponding counter shaft and axially slidable thereon, the series of friction discs on said counter .shafts being in interengaging relation with the series of friction discs on said central shaft, control means carrying said counter shafts and movable to approach the counter shafts and recede them from said central shaft for varying the gear ratio, the series of friction discs on said counter shafts being divided into systems having a plurality of group of discs equiangularly disposed along said circle, each system comprising at least at one end of the friction disc series on the central shaft, axial pressure means including a pressure member bearing uniformly on its corresponding friction disc groups on the counter shafts, and at least at one end of each friction disc series on the counter shafts, a special friction disc receiving only the pressureof the corresponding pressure member at one end of the central disc series, for the purpose of equalizing the axial pressures exerted on the various series of friction discs.

2. A friction gear as defined in claim l, wherein said axial pressure means of each of said systems of friction discs includes a spring member.

3. A friction gear as defined in claim l, wherein the series of friction discs on said central shaft comprises for each of said Isystems `of friction discs a pressure disc, the various pressure `discs bearing on each other bymeans of spherical surfaces.

4. A friction gear as claimed in claim l, wherein said special friction discs for the various systems are of different total axial thickness, corresponding special friction discs in each group belonging to the same system being of equal thickness.

5. A friction gear as claimed in claim l, wherein said 'special friction discs corresponding to the second and further systems of a plurality of systems are of H-shaped cross section, the special friction discs of said various systems being of different total axial thickness, and corresponding special friction discs in each group belonging to the same system being of equal thickness, whereby correspondinginterengaging friction discs on said central shaft may penetrate into the free marginal space formed in said H-shaped discs.

6. A friction gear as claimed in claim l, wherein said axial pressure means at the end of the friction disc series on 4said central shaft include for each of said systems one mamme 5 end disc, all but the last of the various end discs being provided with a sleeve hub receiving one end of an axial pressure exerting spring, the external face of each sleeve hub carrying the next following end disc, mounted thereon to be axially slidable but turning with the hub.

7. A friction gear as claimed in claim 6, wherein a supporting disc is arranged on said central shaft, al1 of said pressure exerting springs bearing with their other ends against said supporting disc.

8. A friction gear as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pressure exerting springs have identical characteristics in References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,130 Heermans Feb. 13, 1900 1,963,599 Tscherne June 19, 1934 10 2,216,642 Davis Oct. 1, 1940 2,623,396 Beier Dec. 30, 1952 

